All Elements for Life Found on Saturn's Icy Moon Enceladus
2023-06-20
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1An international team of scientists says it has found high levels of phosphorus in ice from Saturn's moon Enceladus.
2Phosphorus is a necessary element for many biological processes on Earth.
3The researchers said the ice crystals shot out from an ocean beneath the moon's surface.
4The discovery came from data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
5Cassini collected the data during its 13-year exploration of the huge planet, its rings, and its moons from 2004 to 2017.
6Cassini was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn.
7The German-led team published their findings in Nature, a science magazine.
8NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the western U.S. state of California also announced the findings.
9JPL designed and built the Cassini spacecraft.
10Earlier, the same team confirmed that Enceladus' ice grains are rich in minerals and complex organic compounds.
11The team said the ice includes the necessary elements to create amino acids, which are important molecular structures for life.
12Phosphorus is the least common of the six chemical elements considered necessary to all living things.
13The others are carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur.
14Now, scientists have found them all on Enceladus.
15"It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth," said the study's lead writer, Frank Postberg.
16He is a planetary scientist at the Free University in Berlin in Germany.
17Phosphorus is necessary for DNA, the genetic instructions in cells.
18It is also an important part of energy formation and transportation in life on Earth.
19The researchers studied measurements taken by Cassini as it passed through salt-rich ice grains released into space by geysers found on the southern part of the moon.
20The geysers were erupting from the ice-covered ocean beneath the surface of Enceladus.
21The substances are the same material that creates one of Saturn's rings, called the "E" ring.
22The E ring can be found outside the planet's brighter main rings.
23Cassini discovered the ice-covered ocean.
24Since then, Enceladus has been a favorable target in the search for places in our solar system that could support life.
25Enceladus is about one-seventh the size of Earth's moon and the sixth largest among Saturn's 146 known natural satellites.
26Jupiter's moon Europa is also believed to have an ocean beneath its icy surface.
27Computer modeling by the study's co-writers in Europe and Japan shows that phosphorus exists in concentrations at least 100 times higher than in Earth's oceans.
28Christopher Glein is a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
29He took part in the research.
30He said the discovery was important.
31Glein said there could be enough phosphorus to support life in Enceladus' ocean.
32The scientists noted that finding phosphorus, complex organic compounds, water, and other things is evidence that Enceladus could possibly support life.
33Life, either past or present, has not been confirmed anywhere beyond Earth.
34"Whether life could have originated in Enceladus' ocean remains an open question," Glein added.
35I'm Gregory Stachel.
1An international team of scientists says it has found high levels of phosphorus in ice from Saturn's moon Enceladus. 2Phosphorus is a necessary element for many biological processes on Earth. 3The researchers said the ice crystals shot out from an ocean beneath the moon's surface. 4The discovery came from data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini collected the data during its 13-year exploration of the huge planet, its rings, and its moons from 2004 to 2017. Cassini was the first spacecraft to orbit Saturn. 5The German-led team published their findings in Nature, a science magazine. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the western U.S. state of California also announced the findings. JPL designed and built the Cassini spacecraft. 6Earlier, the same team confirmed that Enceladus' ice grains are rich in minerals and complex organic compounds. The team said the ice includes the necessary elements to create amino acids, which are important molecular structures for life. 7Phosphorus is the least common of the six chemical elements considered necessary to all living things. The others are carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and sulfur. Now, scientists have found them all on Enceladus. 8"It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth," said the study's lead writer, Frank Postberg. He is a planetary scientist at the Free University in Berlin in Germany. 9Phosphorus is necessary for DNA, the genetic instructions in cells. It is also an important part of energy formation and transportation in life on Earth. 10The researchers studied measurements taken by Cassini as it passed through salt-rich ice grains released into space by geysers found on the southern part of the moon. The geysers were erupting from the ice-covered ocean beneath the surface of Enceladus. 11The substances are the same material that creates one of Saturn's rings, called the "E" ring. The E ring can be found outside the planet's brighter main rings. 12Cassini discovered the ice-covered ocean. Since then, Enceladus has been a favorable target in the search for places in our solar system that could support life. Enceladus is about one-seventh the size of Earth's moon and the sixth largest among Saturn's 146 known natural satellites. 13Jupiter's moon Europa is also believed to have an ocean beneath its icy surface. 14Computer modeling by the study's co-writers in Europe and Japan shows that phosphorus exists in concentrations at least 100 times higher than in Earth's oceans. 15Christopher Glein is a planetary scientist at Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He took part in the research. He said the discovery was important. Glein said there could be enough phosphorus to support life in Enceladus' ocean. 16The scientists noted that finding phosphorus, complex organic compounds, water, and other things is evidence that Enceladus could possibly support life. Life, either past or present, has not been confirmed anywhere beyond Earth. 17"Whether life could have originated in Enceladus' ocean remains an open question," Glein added. 18I'm Gregory Stachel. 19Steve Gorman reported this story for Reuters. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 20__________________________________________________________________ 21Words in This Story 22spacecraft - n. a vehicle that is used for travel in outer space 23crystal -n. a form of a mineral in which the molecules are ordered in a regular way 24rings - n. something that is shaped like a circle 25grain -n. any very small, rounded object 26organic - adj. of, relating to, substances that contain the element carbon and which are necessary for life 27essential -adj. extremely important and necessary 28geyser - n. a hole in the ground that shoots out hot water and steam 29erupt - v. to send out rocks, ash, or lava in a sudden explosion 30concentration - n. the amount of an ingredient in a mixture 31originate - v. to begin to exist 32_______________________________________________________________ 33What do you think of this story? 34We want to hear from you. We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 35Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.